2013 GMC Terrain: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 17, 2025 · Engine · MS

My 2013 GMC Terrain suddenly began to jerk as I was heading to run an errand in town. I pulled my truck back in the drive way at [XXX] where it is parked now. I had a mechanic to come and tell me the engine will need to be replaced and an estimate of the cost to repair it. I could have been rear ended by another vehicle since this suddenly occurred with no prior warning which could result in my death. I have contacted GMC due to a recall on the engine. GMC is declining to honor my request repair my vehicle based on the estimate I provided. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 21, 2024 · Engine, Lights · 55,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the engine was making an abnormal knocking sound. While driving, at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking. The lights were dim. The contact had to add additional oil every 7 days. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Dec 6, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

While driving on the highway at speed limit 75mph, the vehicle (without warning ⚠️) suddenly went into (Reduced Power Engine Mode/ Service Stabilitrack) jerked and slowed down to 35mp almost causing a pile up as cars behind and next to me where still driving above 70mph. If not for my quick reaction to turn on emergency lights cars behind me would have hit me. Immediately after I got off the highway I drove the car (at 35mph as fast as it went) to my nearest Pepboys. Here the vehicle was serviced for nearly a month until the problem was fixed. The cost was almost $6500 GMC has failed to notify customers if this potential issue which not only risks the lives of the drivers and passengers of the 2013 Terrain but those driving alongside it. This is not a new issue as I found the testimonies of many other GMC owners tell a similar dangerous experience. Please help! I have detailed invoices of the repairs.

Filed Oct 13, 2022 · Engine · CA

Excessive oil consumption, on average this vehicle is burning off 2 or more quarts of oil over approximately 1,000 miles. The vehicle is also hard idling, jerky and lunging forward at a stop. The entire engine shakes until it sounds like it stalls out. The Check engine light turns on and off when it has been over 2500 miles after an oil change and when the gas gauge reads 1/4 of a tank or less. The diagnostic tool plug does not register anything; does not even turn the diagnostic tool on when plugged in. This vehicle has stalled while driving with no warning lights or indicators. I called GMC on 10/11/22 to inquiry about these issues the called me back on 10/12/22 and was told that they could not find a recall. I then mentioned the class action lawsuit and they said they found something. They then tried to tell me that recalls are ONLY VIN specific, which is a lie. I already got the recall notice but when I went to get it done they tried to tell me that I had to get services done with them for 6months before they would do the recall fix. And Now I have a car sitting in the shop that I can’t use because it needs a new engine.

Filed Aug 9, 2022 · Engine · OH

Excessive oil consumption, on average this vehicle is burning off 2 or more quarts of oil over approximately 1,000 miles. The vehicle is also hard idling, jerky and lunging forward at a stop, hard shutoff where the engine does not immediately shut off when the key is turned off and the entire engine shakes until it sounds like it stalls out. The vehicle also accelerates slowly with high RPMs, approximately 3500 RPMs before shifting gears. Check engine light turns on and off when it has been over 2500 miles after an oil change and when the gas gauge reads 1/4 of a tank or less. The diagnostic tool plug does not register anything; does not even turn the diagnostic tool on when plugged in. This vehicle has also stalled out while driving with no warning lights or indicators. I called GMC on 8/9/22 to inquiry about these issues and was informed my VIN is not included in any recalls or special conditions related to these known issues.

Filed Jan 4, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · 125,000 miles · GA

Showed stability track. I was driving on the highway when it showed service stability trak then engine power reduced. It took my speed from a 65 to 35 in an instant causing me to almost crash. Then the car started to jerk as I tried to drive to find somewhere safe.

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Transmission · 48,000 miles · CA

While moderately accelerating from a stop or while in motion, the transmission slams into a forward gear with a loud noise and jerk. This is an all wheel drive vehicle.

Filed Jan 15, 2019 · Engine · 90,690 miles · OH

My car is consuming oil faster than normal.my car was rattling and I took it to my mechanic, he said the gmc terrains and chevy equinox is consuming more oil than normal. My oil indicator said the oil was fine, but he said the oil was very low. He told me to check the oil every three to four weeks. He also gave me two extra quarts of oil. I have noticed that my car needs an oil change quite often. When I was driving my car, the car was rattling and was lurching foward at a stop light, I thought it was the transmission, but it is the oil being consumed at a higher rate than normal.

Filed Jan 15, 2019 · Engine · 60,000 miles · VA

The oil consumption is horrible. I believe within 2000 miles from 5qt to 2qt. We were on the road and the car kept jerking.

Filed Oct 22, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 54,820 miles · CA

My vehicle currently has approx. 54k miles and I began experiencing serious, dangerous defects with the vehicle on 9/12/2018 when I was backing out a parking stall my car just completely shut off with no warning. I was able to place it in park then restart it and drive about a mile before it shut off again as I was approaching a stop light. I had to coast the car onto a nearby street out of traffic for my and my son's safety. I waited a few moments and was able to restart the engine once more and drove about 2 blocks before it shut off again in the middle of an intersection. I pulled over and called the gm dealer where I purchased it to determine if there had been any recalls or a warranty. I was told I would have to cover towing and diagnostic fees and was not entitled to any type of warranty coverage. I had a test of the battery performed which came back that the battery was not good. I purchased a new battery and had it installed that night. Although, I had a new battery I had another episode of the car shutting off with no warning after trying to back out a parking stall. It will also periodically jerk and hesitate to accelerate at low speeds or when trying to accelerate after coming to a complete stop. On 10/22/18 as I was entering the on ramp to get on the highway in rush hour traffic, the car engine shut off with no warning nor light indicators. I put it in park and was able to restart it so that I can move it to a safe location. The car again would feel jerky at low idle speeds and when I tried to accelerate after coming to a complete stop as I was in bumper to bumper traffic. This has been a dangerous ordeal as a pregnant woman with kids in the car, while on a freeway or road I can easily be hit from behind. My car is only 6 years old with 54k miles on it and should not have such severe defects.

Filed Apr 1, 2018 · Engine · 60,000 miles · NH

Car makes terrible engine noise when starting/as it idles. This is almost always due to low oil.this car burns through oil faster than anything ive ever seen. Even with full synthetic oil I have to add at least quart every 700 miles for so. Keeping the oil level up helps obv, however this problem was going on for some time before I figured out the car was consuming oil at a super fast rate. So who knows what damage may be inside the engine at this point. It has been reported that there is an issue with the timing chain on the i4 engines and they burn oil because the timing is off. However gm's only fix thus far is to run an oil study which takes up a lot of time.this is also huge pain when dealing with any dealer, because only a gm dealer can run the test, and even if it is found that your car is burning oil they will determine it as "normal" if it's not a specific rate. There's no way full synthetic should be burning up this quickly. Gm needs to do a recall for this issue but will not because once they truly fix the issue it will open up a can of worms that would cost them thousands. So instead the cost is passed on to the owner. If they do offer a fix after the oil study it's only for a piston ring kit which does not actually fix the problem of the bad timing chain. So far the only relief I have found is to turn the eco mode off. This gives a little relief to the constant filling of oil. Other than that if the car is low on oil you will feel a chugging/ jerking of the car, particularly at a stop or low idle. I love the look of gmc's however I don't think I can ever buy one again after dealing with an issue like this and having gm not recall a widely know issue.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · MS

I notice my car was jerking a little so I took it to the dealer to see what the problem was, the service guy told me I need my air induction clean (cost will be over $200), this cleaning has something to do with my transmission. I have only had my vehicle for a year and the transmission needs cleaning, really. Should this be covered on warranty. A couple of days later, I received a letter in the mail stating a recall on vehicle with e85 fuel system, so call the nearest dealer and see if my vehicle is cover. My question is: does the e85 have anything to do the air induction system.